I-210 Gold Line bridge superstructure pour complete

Achieving another major milestone in the Los Angeles Country Gold Line Foothill Extension construction project, crews worked 18 hours over the past several days to place more than 200 truckloads of concrete to form the superstructure and main crossbeam of the I-210 Gold Line Bridge.

An important component of the Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa, the bridge, known as the "Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley," is a 584-linear-foot span that traverses the eastbound lanes of the I-210 Freeway between Baldwin and Santa Anita Avenues. The bridge will allow connection between the existing Sierra Madre Villa Station in East Pasadena and the future Arcadia Station.

The bridge is being built by Skanska USA. Skanska has been planning for the pour for about four months and with the successful completion of the superstructure, concrete pour the bridge is nearing completion.

In pouring the superstructure, Skanska used 2,100 cubic yards of concrete, enough concrete to fill approximately 50 average swimming pools. The concrete used in the pour was divided among more than 200 truckloads, requiring 30 trucks to make continuous trips to and from the site throughout the 18-hour pour.

The $18.6 million bridge, which has been under construction since April 2011, will feature columns designed to resemble indigenous baskets in recognition of the region's original inhabitants and the important role they played in the San Gabriel Valley's development. The underside of the superstructure is also specially designed to be curved and resemble the underbelly of a snake, to represent the wildlife living in the foothills above the valley.

The design for the bridge was developed and finalized by Skanska's design team and led by AECOM.

The bridge project is on track for completion in late 2012 and is scheduled to be turned over to Foothill Transit Constructors (FTC) - A Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture in December to begin installation of the track and other elements onto the bridge as part of the overall 11.5-mile Foothill Extension Pasadena to Azusa Alignment Project.